Corner Brook’s Nathan Barker expected to be back on hardwood with Sea-Hawks this weekend

Memorial Sea-Hawks sophomore Nathan Barker sat on the sidelines for a two-game series against the Acadia Axemen at the Field House in St. John’s this past weekend because of a sprained ankle. He is expected back for a two-game series against University of Prince Edward Island this weekend in Charlottetown. - Memorial University

Nathan Barker didn’t like being on the sidelines when his team really needed him, but he’s expected to be back in time to help the Sea-Hawks secure a playoff berth.

Barker, a Corner Brook native in his sophomore season with the Memorial Sea-Hawks in the Atlantic University Sport varsity men’s basketball league, was dearly missed by his teammates during the weekend as the Acadia Axemen swept the hometown squad at the Field House in St. John’s over the weekend.

Barker, one of the offensive forces for the Sea-Hawks this season, sprained his ankle during a team practice a week ago and it kept him out of the lineup for the two-game series.

“I jumped up and I came down and landed on somebody’s foot,” Barker said.

The top six teams earn a playoff berth in the AUS playoffs and the Sea-Hawks will have to put some wins on the board if they want to secure one because they now find themselves in sixth place with a 4-10 record.

The Axemen defeated the Sea-Hawks 78-65 Sunday to register the sweep. The Axemen won the series opener with an 89-65 victory over the Sea-hawks one night earlier at the Field House.

Corner Brook’s Chris Dobbin had two points and eight rebounds in Sunday’s loss, while the sophomore, coming off the bench, had eight points and four rebounds in 17 minutes in Saturday’s loss.

Barker said his ankle is fine now so he expects to be back on the hardcourt this weekend when the Sea-Hawks tangle with the seventh-place University of Prince Edward Island Panthers who enter the weekend series with a 2-12 record.

“I think we can put a little run together over the last six games,” he said.